The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-26
HELLol CENTRAL. HELLol
A Chatty Talk With Telephone Mama
ger Bishop

A Chatty Talk With Telephone Mama
ger Bishop.
Manager Bishop of the Telephone Ex-
change, stopped MORNING NEWS reporter
yesterday, and led him into the Office of
the exchange. He explained that he is
exerting himself to the utmost to improve
the service, that his inspectors have been
systematically through the city, overhaul
ing every station, and are
remedying any and all trouble as fast as
found. But, he said. there are several
things which would like to impress upon
subscribers, by way Of enlisting their Co
operation in improving the service, as you
can readily understand that my efforts will
be futile, If they neglect 10 handle their in
struments properly. We have an instruc-
ton card posted by the side of each set Of
instruments, but a great many people either
do not read II, or, having read II, neglect to
recognize 1t. Nothing is contained in the
companys instructions which has not been
suggested TO US by years of experience in
the business. We consider the observance
OF every one Of the rules necessary TO
perfect service
The rules provide that the free use of any
telephone by non-SubScTibers is prohibited
by contract Any one, however, may call
physician or give an alarm of fire by
courtesy of the subscriber. To call put the
hand telephone to the ear. press down the
lever, and give first the number of the
party wanted and then your own number,
thus: 80 on 80 Hold the lever down
until the bell is rung, then release it and
proceed with conversation. One ring of
the bell indicates that an order has been
heard and executed. If the party does not
respond promptly, press down the lever
and say: Ring IS again. Two rings OF
the bell indicates that the line with which
it is desired to be connected is in use-call
again in few minutes. Never use any
extra words in giving an order, such as
"Centralr' Hello! Central!n They are
worse than useless.
To answer a call simply put the hand tel
ephone TO the ear, without touching the
lever, and give the number wanted. Speak
In moderate, clear tone, not loud with
lips about three or four inches
from the transmitter. Articulate dis
tinctly. Do not touch the lever,
except to give an order to the
central office. Always hang the telephone
on its hook. Never hang the hand telephone
on the hook until through with the CONVEX
sation. If this is done the operator may
disconnsct the connection prematurely.
When necessary to communicate with CEN
trial office, otherwise than to order a connec-
ton, the private wire will be connected to
the managers or chief operators telephone
The telephone exchange, with its many
instruments and wires, comprises a vast ar
rangement of delicate apparatus, exposed to
many contingencies. Subscribers ought not
to be surprised or angry if their telephone
sometimes appears to be ont of order.
Mr.. Bishop was asked to state in what
manner the rules are not conformed to. He
replied: Zone Of the ways is that in calling,
subscribers often fail to put the hand tele-
phone to the ear, which, if dor, would
quite frequently show that the call wire was
at that instant being used by some one else
to order connection, and, of course, 1t is
impossible for the operator to bear both at
the same time, the result being that the ope-
rator generally hears neither. This causes
confusion, and the telephone has always to
bear the blame.
Again, subscriber becomes accustomed
to ordering connections made for certain
number-that of his own station. Some
times he finds himself at the office of a
friend, and wishes to telephone somebody.
He goes to his friends telephone and orders
connection, but instead of using the num-
Der of his friends telephone, he uses that of
his own. Result, the party called for is
connected to the office of the party calling,
and not the station he is using Some one
| at his office goes to the telephone, when
something about like this occurs: 'HelloI
| 'Hellor 'Wellp 'Welln What do you
wantr' I want nothing-what do you
wantP oh, II | didn't call Mel
Their did another mistake of the ope-
rator.' And in the meantime the party who
made all the trouble is adding to his Offense
by Tuning and scOlding at the central office
because he can't get the connection, and
oftentimes calls up the chief operator to
complain. Upon being informed that he is
not at No. = he is very profound in his
| apologies, but in the meantime the reputa-
Of tha he,
degree in the estimation of two
| gentlemen who were rung up by his mis-
| take.
Again, the instructions read that in call
| ing a subscriber must give first the name of
the party wanted and then his own num-
Der; but some people seem to think they can
improve on this, and insist upon giving
| their own number first. Result, the party
called for gets one tap on his bell, which he
may or may not answer, while the bell of
the party calling is rung loudly for a couple
of seconds. Please explain, that by the
| arrangement of our apparatus, the station
called for, that is, the number first given, is
rung distinctly and loudly, while that of
the party calling is simply tapped once if
the connection is made, and twice if the
party called for is busy talking with some
one else
"Too loud tone of voice in the transmit
ter produces a buzzing sound, and fire.
quently renders the utterance so indistinct
that the operator cannot understand, and,
of course, cannot execute the order Its
repetition, perhaps several times, is neces-
sary, and the subscriber is almost sure to
feel like blaming the central office, when
really he only is in fault.
1.-The use of the telephones by persons who
have no right to use them, not being sub
scribers, is productive of much trouble
Such persons rarely observe the rules, and
they make extra demands upon the opera
tors, who have as much as they can do to
handle the legitimate business of subscribers,
besides frequently occupying the wires to
the disadvantage and interference with the
business of the latter"